Two men plead not guilty to human trafficking charges in Edmonton

Two men, Kevin Dorcleus-Cetoute, 33, and Jean Rodnil Dubois, 32, pleaded not guilty to human trafficking charges in Edmonton on Monday. The case is part of Project Endgame, an investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) into an interprovincial sex trafficking network that allegedly operated for over a decade.

Authorities claim the network spanned British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec. According to ALERT, the accused forced victims to perform sex acts daily and used violence, degradation, and threats to maintain control. The investigation was initiated in May 2023 following a 911 call regarding a violent assault on a sex worker.

While the men were originally facing nearly 20 offences—including assault, sexual assault, money laundering, and animal cruelty—they are currently facing three combined charges of human trafficking. The Crown prosecution intends to withdraw the additional charges if a guilty verdict is reached. In an unusual proceeding, the judge will review the evidence independently, with parties set to meet next week for a decision and potential sentencing.